If you find yourself traveling between Čapljina and Stolac, you will pass through the local community of Opličići. It is a beautiful and picturesque place, adorned with stunning nature, the Bregava River, and very hospitable residents. However, due to the unresolved issue of municipal waste collection in this community, over the years, a number of small and large illegal dumps have appeared in Opličići, which the residents have so far been unable to eliminate. The main reason for the existence of these illegal dumps is the fact that a regular waste collection system has never been established in Opličići. The residents have been left to fend for themselves, but they have finally decided to take matters into their own hands.

Thanks to the PRAGG project – Proactive Citizens – a campaign called "Together for a Clean Opličići" has been launched, aiming to establish regular waste collection in the area. In October 2024, an informal group of citizens called "Together for a Clean Opličići" was formed. In December of the same year, the group conducted a door-to-door survey throughout the local community, covering virtually all 158 households in Opličići.

The survey results showed that 89.2% of respondents believe there is an urgent need for a systemic solution to municipal waste collection in the Opličići local community.
At the same time, the residents expressed their willingness to pay for waste collection services, in the same manner as regulated in other local communities. The survey also revealed another very important point — the vast majority of residents are ready to participate in further activities, with a strong emphasis on achieving a systemic solution to this decades-old problem. Following the survey, cooperation was established with the leadership of the local community, as well as with the City Administration of Čapljina, with a shared goal — to solve this pressing issue.

The competent municipal utility company will also take part in solving the problem. Their task is to carry out the technical preparations for waste collection in the Opličići local community, while the aforementioned responsible institutions work on making the necessary decisions to include Opličići in the regular waste collection system.
What needs to be clearly defined in the coming period is the method of waste collection, sorting, and disposal.

In the case of the aforementioned illegal dumpsites, not only do they spoil the image of the beautiful landscape, but they also pose a serious health risk to children and all residents of Opličići. Additionally, the Bregava River is at risk, as one of the many illegal dumpsites is located right along its riverbank.

When looking at the bigger picture, it becomes clear that air and water do not remain in one place. If the air is polluted in one area, the particles will spread and eventually contaminate each neighboring settlement. Pollution also travels through water, which means that if waste is dumped near the Bregava River flowing through Opličići, that waste will continue downstream—reaching the village of Klepci, flowing into the Neretva River, and from there into the Adriatic Sea. This means that waste from Opličići pollutes far more than just the local community. In addition, agriculture, fruit growing, and viticulture—occupations that most residents depend on to support their families—are also under threat.

The entire situation is made even more absurd by the fact that Čapljina presents itself as an exceptionally well-organized and clean city—yet just 10 kilometers from its center, illegal dumpsites are emerging.

Through their campaign, the residents of Opličići are calling on all relevant authorities to finally get actively involved and address this issue in a systemic way. Instead of dealing with illegal dumpsites once a year, they are asking for a long-term solution through regular waste collection in their local community.

At the initiative of the informal citizens' group "Together for a Clean Opličići", a community forum was held to discuss the next steps toward engaging with local authorities, with the goal of finding a solution that will ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for all residents of the local community.

“Each day without a solution means more waste in the Opličići area, greater environmental consequences, and increased risks to the health of children and all residents of this local community”, warn members of the informal citizens' group "Together for a Clean Opličići."